Berkshire Bank Hockey Night In New England: Projected Bruins-Hurricanes Lines, Pairings

UPDATE (3:30 p.m.): Mike Reilly is in the COVID-19 protocol, meaning Urho Vaakanainen likely will stay in the lineup.

ORIGINAL STORY: The resurgent Boston Bruins face a stiff test in the Carolina Panthers.

The teams will face off Tuesday at TD Garden in a matchup between two of the NHL’s hottest teams. Boston has won five consecutive games and eight of its last 10, while Carolina has won seven and drawn two of its last 10 outings.

The Bruins likely will take one more step toward a full complement of players, as Connor Clifton has returned from COVID-19 protocol to practice and is expected to join Derek Forbort on Boston’s third defensive pairing. If Clifton, who skated with his teammates Tuesday morning, doesn’t play, Urho Vaakanainen will continue in his place on the third pair.

Matt Grzelcyk also is expected to be back, where he’d reunite with Charlie McAvoy on the top pairing. Head coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t commit to who would come out with the return of Grzelcyk.

Cassidy is expected to continue with the forward lines, which have fueled Boston’s winning streak.

Tuukka Rask replaces Linus Ullmark as the Bruins’ starting goaltender.

The Bruins will retire Willie O’Ree’s No. 22 jersey prior to the game. NESN will air the O’Ree ceremony and Bruins-Hurricanes in full, with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET. Puck drop is set to follow the 7 p.m. ceremony.

Here are the teams’ projected lines and defensive pairings:

BOSTON BRUINS (22-11-2)
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–Craig Smith
Taylor Hall–Erik Haula–David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk–Charlie Coyle–Oskar Steen
Anton Blidh–Tomas Nosek–Curtis Lazar

Matt Grzelcyk–Charlie McAvoy
Urho Vaakanainen–Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort–Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask

CAROLINA HURRICANES (25-8-2)
Teuvo Teravainen–Sebastian Aho–Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov–Vincent Trocheck–Nino Niederreiter
Steven Lorentz–Jordan Staal–Jesper Fast
Jordan Martinook– Jesperi Kotkaniemi–Derek Stepan

Jaccob Slavin–Tony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei–Brett Pesce
Brendan Smith–Ian Cole

Frederik Andersen

These projected lines and defensive pairings are presented by Berkshire Bank, the official bank of NESN’s Boston Bruins coverage.

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